Educational philanthropy enables educational and economic success

Thursday

Jun 29, 2017 at 2:43 PMJul 3, 2017 at 9:26 AM

By Eric Schmidt and Catherine AbbotContributed Content

For the 56th time since its opening, Victor Valley College graduated a group of eager and talented students who will discover what a great equalizer education is in our society and how education literally is the bearer of opportunity for those who fully pursue it. We were deeply moved when reading Charity Lindsey’s article about this year’s graduation, which thoughtfully featured a few of the highlights of how our local college truly changes lives. A 62-year-old grandmother achieved her dream of completing nursing school, another student decided he wanted a life of education instead of a life of crime. Admittedly, we are inspired as we read about these unsung hero students who triumphed over adversity and instead found a will to succeed.

What we hope to make you aware of is that there are countless student success stories occurring inside the walls of the institution you may pass by every day as you travel down Bear Valley Road. We are fortunate we get to work closely with dedicated and committed employees of the college who make it their mission to lift our students up and show them anything is possible.

Who are we? We are the Victor Valley College Foundation. For 42 years, many great community leaders have served and continue to serve on the board of the Foundation, the fundraising arm of the college. The mission of the Foundation is to makes friends and raise funds to help Victor Valley College serve our community. Together, the college and the Foundation seek additional resources to help support the woefully underfunded college which educates an equally underserved and economically challenged region.

There exists in the High Desert a large contingent of compassionate individuals who invest their time and money to impact the lives of others. Some may call it “charity,” however, it is much more. It is the innate belief that philanthropy has the power to transform lives and communities. That developing a community of donors and supporters, at any level, has the power to elevate the futures of our families, friends and our neighbors. The investment of our generous donors fosters a competitive advantage for our students. Funding ensures they are learning on the latest tools and technologies and have access to tutors to assist them with mastering their most difficult subjects. Most of all, gifts which help to provide for their education tells them that someone whom they may never meet believed in them!

Students at Victor Valley College need our help to succeed. More than 86 percent of them require financial support in order to attend college. Fourteen percent of Victor Valley College students have incomes that fall below the federal poverty level. Education is their key to a better life. Graduates of a community college earn approximately $40,000 per year, which for many from Victor Valley College will mean breaking the cycle of poverty. Those who choose to go on to pursue more advanced degrees find greater advantages, opportunities and rewards.

At a time when violent crime is a concern in the High Desert, it is important to note that studies show that better educated communities are safer communities, a correlation where higher education levels yield lower crime rates is well documented. The higher the level of education attained, the less likely an individual is to commit a crime. Graduations from both high school and college provide marked reductions in the propensity to break the law. Greater levels of education give individuals more options. Education is also less expensive than incarceration offering substantial savings to public agencies that choose to invest in it. Increasing education levels is a strategy focused on curing the crime problem. Our donors understand the crime-education dynamic and give generously in part to solve this prevalent issue in our region. On Tuesday, June 13, 2017, 160 students were awarded $165,000 in scholarships by the Foundation to aid them with tuition, books and fees. Educational philanthropy is a great solution for the problems of inadequate education and high crime.

Financial barriers are the largest hurdles blocking students from obtaining an education. For some, scholarships mean the difference between continuing in their classes or dropping out of school and possibly continuing the cycle of poverty. Many of our students are the first generation in their families to attend college, English may be their second language and the support systems within the home, unfortunately, may not exist. As so many of us know and understand (and indeed are examples of), a first generation college graduate breaks an educational cycle within a family which has endless future potential.

One of our board members has said, “An education is the greatest gift you can give someone.”

This is a true testament to the decade’s long dedication of our board members and our donors. We are humbled by their generosity and overwhelmed by their selfless acts to empower students with the gift of knowledge.

We can never say thank you enough to those who give selflessly to support the Foundation, the college and, most importantly, the students whose lives are touched evermore. Frankly, it seems as if a thank you is not enough, but to a student at Victor Valley College, it is everything!

Congratulations Class of 2017!

Eric Schmidt is president of the Victor Valley College Foundation. Catherine Abbott is executive director of the Victor Valley College Foundation.